The Complete Guide to Facial Contouring Based on Face Shape

The face of each person has its own characteristics, which can be described as aesthetic strengths and weaknesses that form a complete picture of the face. To make this picture more vivid, interesting and harmonious, the correct contouring of the face, made taking into account the features of its shape, as well as individual anatomical zones and structures, will help.

With the help of contouring, you can make the cheekbones more expressive, if necessary, visually make a round face more elongated, hide some imperfections by applying certain shades of contouring products. How to do this, estet-portal.com will tell in this article.

General contouring recommendations for all face shapes

To ensure that facial contouring allows you to achieve the desired result, remember a few fundamental rules:

1. Determine the shape of your face. To do this, putting your hair in a ponytail, go to the mirror and try to establish which geometric figure it most resembles. Some girls resort to a trick that makes this task easier: they circle their reflection in the mirror with lipstick. But it's best to ask a professional makeup artist what kind of face shape you have.
2. Cleanse and moisturize your face before contouring, use makeup base.
3. Blend the applied products of different shades so that the transitions between them are smooth.
4. It is better to check the result of contouring in daylight or on a photo.

By contouring you can make your face more expressive, interesting and harmonious.

What tools and tools for face sculpting will you need

The choice of cosmetics used for facial contouring depends entirely on the characteristics of your skin: shade – from its color, structure – from its type, composition – from her sensitivity, etc. It is possible that the independent choice of means for contouring will take a very long time. Therefore, it makes sense to seek help from a make-up artist – this will allow you not only to observe the technique of sculpting, but also to find out the shape of your face, the appropriate structure and shades of cosmetics.

For brushes and other tools used for contouring, these include:

• kabuki brush;
• flat brush with semi-circle cut;
• beveled brush;
• brush dome shape;
• A beauty blender that looks like an egg and is ideal for both applying and blending cosmetics.

Below estet-portal.com will consider the features of contouring according to the shape of the face:

• oval;
• square;
• round;
• triangular.

Oval face contouring step by step

For an oval face, contouring is done as follows:

1. To highlight the cheekbones, draw in the lips and apply the darkest shade to the resulting depressions under the cheekbones, and above it – the lightest. Blend the border of flowers and highlight the light part with a highlighter.
2. On the central line of the nose, apply the lightest shade, and on its lateral parts – darker.
3. Use highlighter for the center of the chin. To fine-tune the contour of the chin, if necessary, use a thin brush to apply a dark shade, and then begin to blend the borders.
4. A small amount of shimmer or highlighter applied to the apples cheeks, which are clearly visible when smiling, will make the cheekbones even more prominent.
5. The lips will be expressed with a thin contour formed by the lightest shade and a thin soft brush.
6. The lightest shade can also be applied to the area under the eyebrows, and then emphasized with a highlighter. Result – more expressive look. Do not forget to carefully blend all the lines.

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Features of contouring the face of a square shape

The purpose of contouring a square face is to narrow and elongate its outline. For this you will need:

• apply the darkest shade to the sides of the forehead and corners of the lower jaw;
• highlight the nose, the central part of the forehead and the chin with the lightest shade;
• it is necessary to apply a shadow on the cheeks, starting from the temples;
• for "apples" cheeks apply blush;
• you can also lighten the area around the nose further.

Imperfect lines that need to be hidden, darken; everything that needs to be highlighted, raised, underlined – brighten.

Scheme of applying light and dark shades for contouring a square face is shown in the picture below.

How to do round face contouring

The smooth lines of a round face dictate the following contouring features that must be taken into account in order to make a round face more expressive:

• You will need to darken the sides of the face to visually narrow its outline;
• to correct the cheek area, apply a dark shade in a semicircle, not bringing it to the nose for a couple of centimeters;
• lighten the triangle from the corners of the eyes to the center of the cheeks;
• lighten the contour around the lips and the area near the nose, darken the sides of the nose;
• a light tone in the center of the chin and a dark tone on the sides will visually narrow this part of the face.

What you need to know about triangular face contouring

The first thing to consider when contouring a face of this shape – the direction of its apex.

1. If the vertex of the triangle is pointing down:

• to smooth the corners, use a dark tone on the sides of the forehead;
• in the center of the chin, apply a dark shade, and on its side parts – light;
• Pay attention to the diamond shape of the application of dark shades on the cheeks (fig. below).

2. If the vertex of the triangle is pointing up:

• use the technique of darkening the lower part of the face, especially the corners of the lower jaw and chin;
• the upper part of the face needs to be lightened – lengthen the eyebrows, focus on the eyes.

Read also: Eyebrows and face shape: creating a harmonious look

When contouring your face, don't be afraid to experiment with shades, shadows, colors used when applying makeup to determine which application scheme is most beneficial for your face from an aesthetic point of view.